Kaolengmian (烤冷面)
Made from some kind of noodle rolled out into a thin slab, this treat is sure to leave your mouth watering after the first taste.. I've had kaolengmian cravings in the middle of the night and first thing I did the next morning, get up, wash up, dress up and briskly walk down the street to get me some. It's braised with egg and you have your choice of onion and parsley and some kind of Chinese sausage as a filling. They can make it spicy, sweet, sweet and sour, extra salty, extra sour whatever the flavor you desire lightly fried on a flat iron plate. All for just 5 kuai!
Chuanr (-串-barbecue meat/vegetables on stick)
The vegetables, fish and squid and sometimes marinated meats are normally stir fried on a flat iron plate. These go perfectly with the coal barbecued meats like beef, lamb, chicken wings, chicken thighs, chicken hearts and gizzards: my favorite and a whole range of animal parts. Add barbecue mantou (Chinese-style steamed bread) to the mix and you have yourself a killer dinner. During the summer, restaurants serve their chuanr outside and you can see droves of patrons sitting and enjoying these delicious treats that they mostly prefer to wash down with nice, cold, refreshing beer. It's a scene you, or rather I, cannot resist
Donkey burger/sandwich(驴肉火烧): Yes, I said donkey, you know, big floppy ears, goes hee-haw, that donkey. I told my friend I had a donkey burger once and the cringe on her face lasted for days. Restaurants back in my home country have been shut down for serving donkey meat in the disguise of beef but here donkey burgers are a delicacy. It's actually a specialty of Hebei province, you know, the one that Beijing is in, that Hebei. Try one today, tell me what you think.
Stinky tofu(臭豆腐): I haven't actually ever had it but it seems to be a Chinese favorite. Told my friend that once I can get past the smell, I'm definitely trying it. It is said that the stinkier it is, the tastier; a point I must prove to myself before I leave this blessed country. Even if you don't know what it looks like, don't fret, just follow the distinct yet unexplainable smell, it's not a sewer, it's a treat!
Caramel fruit candy(糖葫芦)： Feeling like a healthy snack but don't like eating plain fruit, try fruit caramel candy. So much variety depending on the fruits in season, you can have tangerine, strawberry, kiwi, pineapple, the tiny,round, sweet and sour one whose name always escapes me, even cherry tomatoes. Get your vitamins wrapped in a sweet, full-of-caramel goodness exterior! But don't tell your dentist I told you to.
Jian Bing (煎饼): Oh yeah, so many good foods on the street. The array of 'fast food' is phenomenal. When local people ask me why I'm fat I say it's cause of too much Chinese fast food! The best thing is going to new cities and seeing things you've never seen before and trying them out. The Jian Bing in one town is very different to another and it's interesting to see how they vary from place to place. I pity the people who are too scared for health reasons to enjoy such great food.
Hot dry noodles (热干面) Street food is a culture all of its own. If you can resist the temptation of eating, just watching the people is the bigger part of the experience, in my opinion. The vendors are artisans, producing their tasty treats with flair. I'm headed to the street. I hear a bowl of 热干面 calling my name!
My favorites are: deep fried bread sticks(油条), steamed pork buns(包子), wonton soup(馄饨).
I have tried the stinky tofu in Anhui and Shanghai. They are more acceptable if dipped in chilli sauce. The stinky tofu in Beijing is just too smelly for me, especially the ones from Wang Zhi He (brand) which the locals just seem to adore.
Malatang (麻辣烫) is a kind of street noodles that you could find in almost every city in China. Ma (麻) means "numb", La (辣) means "spicy", and Tang (烫) means "soup". So, we could see that Malatang is some kind "hot & spicy noodles". Don't be fooled by the appearance. Although Malatang doesn't look like some expensive and delicate cuisine (sometimes also seems like a little messed-up), but it actually is a REAL delicious Chinese food.
I've traveled all around China and in my opinion, the most delicious Malatang can be found in Chongqing and Shijiazhuang. The price will vary according to how many ingredients you choose, usually it's around 5-10 Yuan in the street and 12-20 Yuan in a decent restaurant.
Cold rice noodle (凉皮)：Here's my favorite....the bowl in the middle is rice noodles, cucumber, some chili sauce perhaps with a tad of soy sauce, fried tofu, peanutes, cilantro, chil, and bean sprouts. Not sure, but maybe some vinegar too. This street vendor food was only like 2-3rmb I think...for the middle bowl. Maybe I'm easily pleased, I don't know.
